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Topic: House Blessing Question (Read 7022 times)

We are new Catechumens (praise God).This Monday our Parish Priest is coming by our house on Monday to bless it and I am a bit nervous about the etiquitte involved. How do I greet him when he comes to the door? What do I do when he leaves?What else should I expect during the visit?

You greet the priest by kissing his right hand, the hand that blesses. How is he typically greeted in the parish, "Hello Father," or "Father, bless?" If anything is expected of you, the church should have told you, like perhaps, having a bowel of water available and an icon in front of it. Why don't you call the church office and ask if anything is expected, ask a parish council member on Sunday, or ask the priest. Kiss his hand again as he leaves; typically a gratuity is expected for a home visit. A priest visiting the home of catechumens will not be expecting much preparation knowing of your lack of experience.

Small talk, especially about how and why you want to enter the Church; maybe another description of the steps involved in this process and where y'all are at. Maybe some coffee and/or cookies.

Hopefully your parish will have provided a 'summary sheet' of what usually helps a priest when he is preparing to bless a home: an icon, a bowl of water, a candle, etc. No priest ever counts on that sheet actually being followed, so it is no biggie if you don't have some of the items listed...probably your priest will have the items anyway.

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"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus

-Close the doors of any rooms you don't want the priest to bless.-Turn off all radios and TV's.-Have a candle (matches) placed in a central location of your home, with an icon...this is where you will pray.-You should give him a "gift" for stopping by. This is usually in the form of cash.-Also offer coffee and something to eat. Sometimes, if the priest has time, he will love to stay and chat. However, if he rushes off, don't take it personally. He probably has another dozen houses to visit before he goes home that evening.-I always have a list of names I would like for him to pray for.-One more thing....we are usually told to lock our pets away while he blesses the house.

Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

I think most everything's been covered. The only other things I can think of is: have lights on in the rooms you want blessed if it's dark, and be prepared to serve food but don't assume anything (ie. don't make a ton of stuff expecting him to stay, because he might not, or he might just not want to eat because if he ate at every stop during house blessings he'd put on 30 pounds).

Thank you to everyone for your replies.Unfortunately our church does not have an office or staff, and my Priest has a "day job" as a professor at a local university so I hate to bother him. I have no idea who is on the parish council either.

I would like to know what you would consider an appropriate gift amount.

Fwiw--and this isn't necessarily for the OP, but just for anyone it applies to--you can also give a gift other than money. Maybe your priest loves a certain author and has been having trouble getting ahold of a certain book, or maybe you just think he'd really enjoy a certain item. You can match the gift/donation to what best meets the priests needs and/or wants.

First - call or email your priest and tell him you have no idea what to expect and ask him what you need to have ready for him. If he's no help, call Matushka or a deacon or someone you know from the parish.

You should have holy water that the priest blessed on Theophany. This is what he will use to bless your house. A bowl for it to go in. And a list of names of those who live in the house so he can pray for your family by name. A candle and matches. That's really all you need for the blessing. My priest also likes to bless all the beds as well as rooms. (including bathrooms and laundry).

I usually give my priest about $25-30. But, it might depend on where you live too. I would think that if it's a mission parish and the priest has full-time job outside of the church, the parish is probably not able to pay him much. Giving him something with that in mind might help you a bit. I look at it as a honorarium rather than gratuity. Ask your priest if he has other houses to go to after yours.

Fwiw--and this isn't necessarily for the OP, but just for anyone it applies to--you can also give a gift other than money. Maybe your priest loves a certain author and has been having trouble getting ahold of a certain book, or maybe you just think he'd really enjoy a certain item. You can match the gift/donation to what best meets the priests needs and/or wants.

Honestly...there is no requirement for a cash gift. Much anguish is spent over this item, and I know of a few cases where folks have not had their house blessed out of concern that they will not seem to be sufficiently gracious. Give what you feel the Lord is calling you to give.

Some Greek families practice the podi tradition, where the first person to step into the house after a certain date receives whatever money may be in their pockets. Many Roma families practice a similar tradition.

In the past, I have received game animals, baked goods, chestnuts, and/or money. The only time I ever had to turn something down was when the families offered me furry pets such as a puppy or kittens. I have given folks gifts when it is obvious that they are having a hard time and need some help.

The point of my meandering message is that the gift is not what is given to the priest, but the real gift is what stays in the house after the priest leaves. Nothing else matters, so please don't give it any thought.

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"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus

Our cat has received a sprinkling by different priests during house blessings. I was both surprised and pleased the first time it happened. He sleeps through it, so he hasn't seemed to be affected either way.

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I believe in One God, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

We are new Catechumens (praise God).This Monday our Parish Priest is coming by our house on Monday to bless it and I am a bit nervous about the etiquitte involved. How do I greet him when he comes to the door? What do I do when he leaves?What else should I expect during the visit?

Just be a normal, joyous Christian. There really is not any obligatory stuffy protocol. You can ask for his blessing. (If you aren't sure how, ask him--he'll be glad to assist; that's his job!) Some people serve coffee/food. It depends on how much time the priest has. It's good to ask in advance if he'd be able/willing to stay a bit afterwards. It's a good time to spend with your priest in a more relaxed environment. Whereever you have your icons will be a focus of attention for the house blessing--it usually begins and ends there. Sometimes the owner of the house proceeds the priest with a lighted candle, opening doors and turning on lights for him. Expect a lot of holy water to be flung everywhere. This is good! There's also singing of the troparion for Theophany.

I wish you blessings on your first house blessing.

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Quote from: GabrieltheCelt

If you spend long enough on this forum, you'll come away with all sorts of weird, untrue ideas of Orthodox Christianity.

Quote from: orthonorm

I would suggest most persons in general avoid any question beginning with why.

Our cat has received a sprinkling by different priests during house blessings. I was both surprised and pleased the first time it happened. He sleeps through it, so he hasn't seemed to be affected either way.

You're lucky you have a laid-back dude of a cat. They're very thin on the ground. All but one or two of the cats I've had over the past decade or four would freak at the sight and effect of a burly bearded fellow flinging a wet brush in all directions.

Small talk, especially about how and why you want to enter the Church; maybe another description of the steps involved in this process and where y'all are at. Maybe some coffee and/or cookies.

Hopefully your parish will have provided a 'summary sheet' of what usually helps a priest when he is preparing to bless a home: an icon, a bowl of water, a candle, etc. No priest ever counts on that sheet actually being followed, so it is no biggie if you don't have some of the items listed...probably your priest will have the items anyway.

Great advice - every priest could write a book about house blessing experiences. I remember going with my father as a boy to sing the responses - you saw everything! I remember particularly one pious wife whose husband was, shall we say, impious. She was mortified as he wouldn't leave the house. He was on the couch, obviously three sheets to the wind, needed a shave and didn't move. Needless to say, he got an extra dose of Holy Water as the room was blessed! Kids, dogs messy rooms, spotless rooms, a veritable banquet or not a drop of water offered....I could go on and on but you get the idea!

Money Is the Best Gift Though ....Put it in a envelope ,Hand it to the Father And Tell Him ,Some thing for Your Personnel Use ,If Married For You ,And Your Family....$40. or 60.00 Donation seem good .. If He Refuses it ,tell him that your giving it for the Church ,then he will take it...

Our cat has received a sprinkling by different priests during house blessings. I was both surprised and pleased the first time it happened. He sleeps through it, so he hasn't seemed to be affected either way.

You're lucky you have a laid-back dude of a cat. They're very thin on the ground. All but one or two of the cats I've had over the past decade or four would freak at the sight and effect of a burly bearded fellow flinging a wet brush in all directions.

As long as he receives regular votive offerings and has his litter tray pristine as soon as it is soiled, he's pretty easy going.

« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 09:55:01 PM by Riddikulus »

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I believe in One God, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

Money Is the Best Gift Though ....Put it in a envelope ,Hand it to the Father And Tell Him ,Some thing for Your Personnel Use ,If Married For You ,And Your Family....$40. or 60.00 Donation seem good .. If He Refuses it ,tell him that your giving it for the Church ,then he will take it...

$ 40 or $60 bucks? Serbians must be a heck of a lot more generous than Carpatho-Russians. Wow - my father would have passed out with that sort of gift!

-One more thing....we are usually told to lock our pets away while he blesses the house.

A small but quite important point. It doesn't take much imagination to work out what a cat's reaction to being sprayed by a horsehair brush soaked in holy water will be ....

I always blessed every animal in the house whenever doing this. No animal ever ran away; most walked up to me and just stared at me. The owners of the home were ususally more skittish than the animals!

My favorites were always when kids were in the house! They were always such willing helpers, holding my books or incense or candles, and pointing out their bikes or other possessions of theirs. The kids often 'got it' better than the adults; maybe this is because kids understand how threatening the world can be and therefore we need help while adults fool ourselves into thinking we canhandle everything alone.

If I may make a suggestion: the priest should never be alone. Once I was lost and called ahead to let the owners know that I would be delayed, maybe 15 minutes. The lady of the house said that would be fine.

When I showed up, the lady was wearing only a towel. Her husband was not in the house, and she said she had just come out of the shower....but her hair was completely dry. She did say that the family icons were all ready for me...in the bedroom.

I left, saying that an emergency had come up. The next time I was there I verified that her husband would be present, and I brought a companion of my own just in case.

Weird things happen out there, so never let the priest be alone with any person, please!

« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 11:17:50 PM by FrChris »

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"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus

My favorites were always when kids were in the house! They were always such willing helpers, holding my books or incense or candles, and pointing out their bikes or other possessions of theirs. The kids often 'got it' better than the adults; maybe this is because kids understand how threatening the world can be and therefore we need help while adults fool ourselves into thinking we canhandle everything alone.

I think my daughter Sahara was about 2 when she experienced her first house blessing. Father hit her with water in the face, and she didn't want anything to do with him after that

-One more thing....we are usually told to lock our pets away while he blesses the house.

A small but quite important point. It doesn't take much imagination to work out what a cat's reaction to being sprayed by a horsehair brush soaked in holy water will be ....

I always blessed every animal in the house whenever doing this. No animal ever ran away; most walked up to me and just stared at me. The owners of the home were ususally more skittish than the animals!

My favorites were always when kids were in the house! They were always such willing helpers, holding my books or incense or candles, and pointing out their bikes or other possessions of theirs. The kids often 'got it' better than the adults; maybe this is because kids understand how threatening the world can be and therefore we need help while adults fool ourselves into thinking we canhandle everything alone.

If I may make a suggestion: the priest should never be alone. Once I was lost and called ahead to let the owners know that I would be delayed, maybe 15 minutes. The lady of the house said that would be fine.

When I showed up, the lady was wearing only a towel. Her husband was not in the house, and she said she had just come out of the shower....but her hair was completely dry. She did say that the family icons were all ready for me...in the bedroom.

I left, saying that an emergency had come up. The next time I was there I verified that her husband would be present, and I brought a companion of my own just in case.

Weird things happen out there, so never let the priest be alone with any person, please!

Rodney Dangerfield indeed. Almost became Benny Hill. Good exit, Father!

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Quote from: GabrieltheCelt

If you spend long enough on this forum, you'll come away with all sorts of weird, untrue ideas of Orthodox Christianity.

Quote from: orthonorm

I would suggest most persons in general avoid any question beginning with why.

-One more thing....we are usually told to lock our pets away while he blesses the house.

A small but quite important point. It doesn't take much imagination to work out what a cat's reaction to being sprayed by a horsehair brush soaked in holy water will be ....

I always blessed every animal in the house whenever doing this. No animal ever ran away; most walked up to me and just stared at me. The owners of the home were ususally more skittish than the animals!

My favorites were always when kids were in the house! They were always such willing helpers, holding my books or incense or candles, and pointing out their bikes or other possessions of theirs. The kids often 'got it' better than the adults; maybe this is because kids understand how threatening the world can be and therefore we need help while adults fool ourselves into thinking we canhandle everything alone.

If I may make a suggestion: the priest should never be alone. Once I was lost and called ahead to let the owners know that I would be delayed, maybe 15 minutes. The lady of the house said that would be fine.

When I showed up, the lady was wearing only a towel. Her husband was not in the house, and she said she had just come out of the shower....but her hair was completely dry. She did say that the family icons were all ready for me...in the bedroom.

I left, saying that an emergency had come up. The next time I was there I verified that her husband would be present, and I brought a companion of my own just in case.

Weird things happen out there, so never let the priest be alone with any person, please!

She might have used a shower cap to keep her hair dry, Father. <snigger> Looks like you had a lucky escape!

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I believe in One God, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

-One more thing....we are usually told to lock our pets away while he blesses the house.

A small but quite important point. It doesn't take much imagination to work out what a cat's reaction to being sprayed by a horsehair brush soaked in holy water will be ....

I always blessed every animal in the house whenever doing this. No animal ever ran away; most walked up to me and just stared at me. The owners of the home were ususally more skittish than the animals!

My favorites were always when kids were in the house! They were always such willing helpers, holding my books or incense or candles, and pointing out their bikes or other possessions of theirs. The kids often 'got it' better than the adults; maybe this is because kids understand how threatening the world can be and therefore we need help while adults fool ourselves into thinking we canhandle everything alone.

If I may make a suggestion: the priest should never be alone. Once I was lost and called ahead to let the owners know that I would be delayed, maybe 15 minutes. The lady of the house said that would be fine.

When I showed up, the lady was wearing only a towel. Her husband was not in the house, and she said she had just come out of the shower....but her hair was completely dry. She did say that the family icons were all ready for me...in the bedroom.

I left, saying that an emergency had come up. The next time I was there I verified that her husband would be present, and I brought a companion of my own just in case.

Weird things happen out there, so never let the priest be alone with any person, please!

A friend of mine, a UPS driver, had a similar experience a few years ago. He stayed for a snack.

I would recommend a $20.00 gratuity, but all the suggestions above are in the range. However, if you find this amount too high, your priest will understand whatever you can afford to offer him. The list of names of those who reside in the household mentioned above, is important too. (I suggest you use Christian names, also, the extent to which you can, but avoid informal names, i.e. "Robert," vs. "Bob" or "Anastasia" vs. "Stassa.")

I'm glad this question was asked and received so many responses as I have been having mild anxiety about having our home blessed this year. I feel terribly guilty that we've only had our home blessed once in 11 years due to this anxiety. My husband fondly remembers when he was a child and the priest would come over and stay to see his train set and maybe sit and chat for a little while after the blessing, and I feel badly that I haven't provided such an experience for my own children due to silly fears. Now that we're Orthodox (DH and children were previously Byzantine Catholic, I was an RC, but BC tagalong) and we have a priest that we feel more comfortable around, I'm determined to ask him to come over to bless the house. And thanks to this thread, I'll remember to crate the dog.

Our cat has received a sprinkling by different priests during house blessings. I was both surprised and pleased the first time it happened. He sleeps through it, so he hasn't seemed to be affected either way.

Yes. I have done so in the past as part of an OCF activity. Works really well!

Prison cells can also be blessed, as well as workplaces.

Can I ask a question: why is there a perception that the need to bless a space is dependent upon its size?

Is there an understanding out there that the Holy Spirit cannot fit in certain areas?

Thanks, Father.

Do you think it'd be a bad idea to get a dorm blessed if one's roomate used it for unwholesome activities?

Why would it be a bad idea? Is your roommate some sort of super powerful being who can force the Lord to do his will?

If your roommate is doing something 'unwholesome', why would you not want the room to be blessed since you occupy the same space and would want the blessing of the Lord to be in this space?

And don't EVEN get me started on how, if your roommate is doing something so awful that you are concerned about those activities somehow impacting the blessing of the Lord, then WHY ARE YOU STAYING THERE WITH THAT ROOMMATE?

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"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus

Thank you to everyone for your replies.Unfortunately our church does not have an office or staff, and my Priest has a "day job" as a professor at a local university so I hate to bother him. I have no idea who is on the parish council either.

I would like to know what you would consider an appropriate gift amount.

I apologize for having my own agenda, but if you work the HF bands, I would suggest and inexpensive Kaito/Degen 1103. I have been listening for a long time, but I have yet to come across an Orthodox ham radio operator in the shortwave frequencies. On the west coast 3730 often veers into philosophy and religion (mostly from a protestant perspective) and not being an operator I have no voice on the matter. You can promote the radio as a sleep aid providing frequencies where antennas are discussed day and night. I can attest to its effectiveness for sleep inducement but I prefer the kind and gentle female voices of the AIRINC San Francisco air traffic coordinators.

On another note, your QRZ location suggests I may be able to hear your HF transmissions if I know where/when..